Sandy aid delay draws reps' wrath

Dems, GOP heap scorn on Boehner

After a day of fury from New York lawmakers over what some said were broken promises to vote on Superstorm Sandy aid Tuesday night, House Speaker John Boehner relented Wednesday, promising piecemeal votes on storm bills by Jan. 15.

After a day of fury from New York lawmakers over what some said were broken promises to vote on Superstorm Sandy aid Tuesday night, House Speaker John Boehner relented Wednesday, promising piecemeal votes on storm bills by Jan. 15.

The House leadership made the commitment to vote Friday on $9 billion in flood insurance said Stephanie Valle, spokeswoman for Rep. Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook. The remaining $51 billion, broken into a $18 billion base bill and a $33 billion supplemental amendment, will come to a vote on Jan. 15, Valle said. The votes will be taken by the new Congress, which will be sworn in Thursday.

"He (Gibson) would have preferred all the votes take place today, but in the absence of that, this will help to ensure aid continues to flow as quickly as possible to those affected," Valle said.

Boehner's decision to cancel the expected vote Tuesday night enraged lawmakers in New York, New Jersey and elsewhere, including many in his own party. New York Rep. Peter King, R-Seaford, said Boehner made the promise in a private meeting with lawmakers from affected states. King and others said they were now satisfied that the aid will be forthcoming, but not before he called the lack of vote Tuesday "a cruel knife in the back" to New York and New Jersey.

"The rug was pulled out from under us," King said in an angry tirade on the House floor Wednesday.

Pulling the bill elicited heated reactions from other elected officials as well.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, combined their anger into a joint statement, chiding Congress for failing to pass the relief package in a timely fashion.

"When American citizens are in need we come to their aid. That tradition was abandoned in the House last night," the governors said.

Newly elected Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-Cold Spring, who takes office on Thursday, called the failure to pass Superstorm Sandy relief "an absolute disgrace" and a "punch to the stomach of New York." He applauded Republicans such as King and Christie for forcefully expressing their outrage with the House Republican leaders. "People have been waiting 66 days for storm relief, and this should get done now," said Maloney.

Rep. Nan Hayworth, R-Mount Kisco, the Republican Maloney unseated in November, said she shared the frustration of her colleagues, saying there was "really no reason to wait" on approving aid for storm-damaged areas. "We need that relief to be sped to those people as soon as possible," Hayworth said.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said the House leadership "turned its back" on those suffering from Sandy, using some of the strongest language against Boehner.

"He should come to the Rockaways and tell families trying to rebuild their homes why they need to wait longer for help. But I doubt he has the dignity nor the guts to do it," Gillibrand said.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., seemed sated, for now, by the House commitment to take up Sandy relief.

"While it would have been far better had they passed the Senate's bill today, at least this provides a path to produce the needed $60 billion for New York and New Jersey by the end of the month," Schumer said.

Sandy was blamed for at least 120 deaths and battered coastline areas from North Carolina to Maine. New York, New Jersey and Connecticut were the hardest-hit states, suffering high winds, flooding and storm surges. The storm damaged or destroyed more than 72,000 homes and businesses in New Jersey. In New York, 305,000 housing units were damaged or destroyed and more than 265,000 businesses were affected.

Staff writer Chris McKenna and The Associated Press contributed to this report.